Using the Pacific Northwest as the dynamic environment
that carries the film from beginning to end, Bryan Smith takes us up
close with the core elements of sea kayaking. Blending wildlife,
people, and places, Pacific Horizons motivates all sea kayakers to get
out and go kayaking. The film features segments on Dubside, Quadra
Island Tidal Races, Skookumchuck Narrows, Keirron Tastagh and Jeff
Norville's 14 day Circumnavigation of Vancouver Island, San Juan
Islands, The Oregon Coast, Columbia River Gorge, Remote West Coast
Vancouver Island Locations, Queen Charlotte Islands,
and much more.

The Official Trailer for Pacific Horizons!

Thursday, May 31, 2007

For the last 6 months I had been planning a filming trip to some of British Columbia's biggest tidal races with a crew of young, up and coming sea paddlers out of Portland, Oregon. I was setting my goals really high for this trip. Aiming to produce some of the most impressive sea kayaking footage ever seen before with a unique blend of cameras and venues. When May 13th arrived and all 7 of us were converging on Skookumchuck Narrows as a starting point, I could not have been any more stoked to see a giant high pressure system engulfing the Pacific Northwest. Everything was coming together. The team of Oregonians had mad it across the border safely, Lise-Anne and Steve Rogers joined the trip for additional camera support, the current speeds were growing all week, and the weather forecast pointed to sun, sun, and more sun. These sort of trips take a lot of work to put together, but all the effort paid off. The photos and film we came away with are truly some of the most stunning images I have seen. I'm going to let some of the pictures tell the story for now and hopefully it will have everyone salivating for this segment in the film!

The ferry in Howe Sound heading for the Sunshine Coast just North of Vancouver, BC.photo by Steve Rogers

The team less Lise-Anne and Steve. From right to left...Bryan Smith, Nick Jacob, Paul Kuthe, Richard Davis, and Dave White.photo by Steve Rogers

Dave White carving it up on the top wave at Skooks.photo by Steve Rogers

Lise-Anne Beyries taking to the long boat quite well. My wife, soul mate, and ultimate partner. This film would not happen without her help and support!photo by Steve Rogers

The newest member of our family and water tribe. Chuya...finding some space in my pile of gear.photo by Steve Rogers

Lise-Anne and I getting the young guns of Portland to share their story.photo by Steve Rogers

Setting up the boat mount camera systemphoto by Steve Rogers

Paul Kuthe was absolutely ripping it up at Skooks...here he is getting his carve on.photo by Steve Rogers

He also was not afraid to drop into the froth on Day 2 when the wave got quite a bit bigger.photo by Steve Rogers

Nick was not too shy at Skooks either...I was glad to be the guy filming this time!photo by Steve Rogers

So fun to be paddling with sea paddlers who have this much skill. A clear example of how talented an in control these guys were on the wave. We went for 4, but I think 3 was the most we got onto the top wave at Skookumchuck.photo by Steve Rogers

Special thanks to Laurie and Tom at High Tide Water Taxi for giving us just enough boat time to capture some incredible new angles at Skookumchuck.photo by Steve Rogers

From Skooks we headed North to Quadra Island via three ferries. The first in the series at 6:30am.photo by Steve Rogers

Lise-Anne and Paul checking out the water off Quadra...don't think I have ever seen water this clear before.photo by Steve Rogers

The inter tidal life was mind blowing. With so many tidal races around Quadra all the critters are very well fed.photo by Steve Rogers

I was lucky enough to talk Lise-Anne into running video for a few surfs on quite possibly the best wave I have ever surfed in a long boat.photo by Steve Rogers

Soooooooo smooth and fast...paradise.photo by Steve Rogers

On the final day Ralph from Discovery Islands Lodge helped us with a bit of filming and then offered to take a few of us back. Lise-Anne, Steve and I took the ride home, while the young guns paddles two hours back to the lodge. photo by Steve Rogers

This trip was everything I could have ever imagined. These pictures are just the beginning. The film will showcase all the paddlers, venues, and adventure.

Saturday, May 12, 2007

The month of May has been packed full of filming trips. The weather has been incredible and I'm starting to rack up mini DV after mini DV of amazing footage for the film. The latest mission was to spend a couple days with Kierron Tastagh and Jeff Norville as they got ready to push off for their attempt at circumnavigating Vancouver Island in two weeks. Lise-Anne and I travelled down to Orcas Island to meet up with them and capture the pre-trip preparations. Two days before the trip started, I discovered that Kierron and Jeff had never met or even talked on the phone. The entire trip had been sorted via email. I was fortunate to capture their first meeting. It is going to provide some great humor in the film .

Kierron and Jeff meet for the first time outside Body Boat Blade.photo by Lise-Anne Beyries

It is hard not to laugh and have fun when filming Keirron. This is the chart and compass combo he intends to use to get them around Vancouver Island!photo by Lise-Anne Beyries

The pink NDK Triton they will be paddling over 50 miles a day in.photo by Lise-Anne Beyries

The usual chaos of packing for one of these expeditions started just after the two met. I was impressed by how they well they hit it off, the speed at which they sorted the gear, and the focus at getting the trip on the water. They met at 7:30pm on Wednesday night and were pushing off by 11:00am the next day.

Getting a quick interview in with Jeff before the launch at North Beach.photo by Lise-Anne Beryies

Just about ready to launch!photo by Lise-Anne Beyries

Right off the bat setting a good cadence and working together.photo by Lise-Anne Beyries